Loose-leaf binder



Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

E SHIELDS DEC D BRADDOCK TRUST 00., ADMINISTRATOR.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1918.

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[E AR sHiELns-oErnnnnoox,.PEivNsYLvANIA; BBALDDIOCK 'rnus'r 00., orBRADDOCK, PENNSYLVANIA, nm/ nvrsrnn'ron or sen), EDWARD SHIELDS,

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. I Specification of Letters Patent.

' m me BINDER.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.-

I, Application filer-A nea, leis. Serial no. 231,325.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD SHIELDS, a citizen of the United. States,residing at Braddock, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a transverse section showing my improved binder, the sectionbeing taken through the binding strips.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top binding strip with one of the clutchdevices removed, and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of one of the clutch devices detached fromthe binding strip.

My invention has relation to loose-leafbinders; and is designed toprovide a binder of simple and convenient character and which can bereadily operated.

The nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing in which I have shown a preferred embodimentthereof, and which will now be described, it being premised, however,that various changes can be made in the details of construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

In this drawing, the numeral 2 designates the upper cover of aloose-leaf binder and 3 the lower cover, these covers being flexibly orotherwise hingedly connected respectively to the top binding stri 4 andlower binding strip 5 in any suita 1e or usual manner. 6 designatesvertical posts which are firmly secured on the lower binding strip 5. Inthe drawing I have shown two of these posts which will be sufficient forordinary sizes of binders, although it will be understood that a greaternumber may be employed, if desired. The top binding strip 4 is providedwith apertures 7 to receive the respective posts. 'Said binding strip isalso provided with a plurality of clutch devlces, one for each post. Theclutch members 8 are each pivotally supported on the top binding stripby means of a rivet 11 which is loosely secured in said strip and whichloosely engages the rivet openin in the clutch member. The clutch member9 is secured to the spring 10 by a rivet 12, this spring forming theonly support for said member 9. The spring is fixedly secured at one endto the top binding strip by means of a rivet 13 and is secured to theclutch member 8 by a rivet l l. One end portion of the clutch member 8is bent upwardly, as indicated at 8", to form a finger press-plate forreleasing the clutch members. The two clutch members of each clutch device are arranged upon opposite sides of the post, their adjacent endsbeing provided with approximately semi-circular notches 15.

The springs 10 normally hold the clutch members in their loweredpositions, in which they efiectively grip the respective posts and thusfirmly secure the binding strip. When it is desired to release theclutches, the finger press portions 8 are depressed, thereby releasingthe grip of the clutch members and enabling the top cover with itsbinding strip to be readily removed from the posts.

The advantages of my invention result from the simplicity of theconstruction and arrangement of the clutch members and their mode ofoperation. The nature of the locking action is such as to exert littleor no strain on the posts, and not of a character tending to spread orbend them or to tear or destroy the bound leaves or sheets.

I claim:

1. A loose leaf binder comprising a binding member having a post, anopposed binding member having an aperture to receive said post, a springsecured to the member having the aperture, and a pair of clutch membersarranged to clutch the post from opposite sides carried by said springand normally held thereby in clutching engagement with the post,substantially as described.

2. A loose-leaf binder, comprising a lower binding member having aplurality of posts rigidly secured thereto, an upper binding memberhaving an aperture for each of said posts, and clutch devices for eachpost carried by the upper member, each of said devices comprisingspringsupported clutching members adapted to engage opposite sides ofthe posts, substantially as described.

3. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a binding strip havingan aperture therethrough, a clutch member pivoted to said strip at oneside of said aperture, an opposing clutch member at the opposite side ofsaid aperture,and a spring secured to the strip and to both the clutchmembers, substantially as described. I

4. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a bindingstrip having anaperture therethrough, a clutch member pivoted 10 to said strip at oneside of said aperture, an

o opposing clutch member at the opposite side of said aperture, and a sring secured to the strip and to both the e utch members,-the pivotedclutch member having an upwardly bent portion forming a finger plate forreleasing the clutch action of said members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I havehereunto set

